2 December 2016
We introduce the best French performers of season 2016. Today, our series starts with the 3yo European champion Almanzor
A winner of 5 races including 3 of the very top Gr1 contests in Europe, the Prix du Jockey Club (Gr1, French Derby) winner Almanzor (Wootton Basset) ended the year on a high note when winning the Irish Champion Stakes (Gr1) in Ireland and the Champion Stakes (Gr1) at Ascot in England. Even though these two races are run over 2,000 metres rather than the "classic" 2,400 metres trip, they are generally viewed as the top two championships of both countries, just as the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in France is.
The Haras d'Etreham-bred colt hence was also acclaimed by a Cartier Award as best 3yo in Europe, on top of his 129 Lbs official rating, the best in Europe and the 4th in the World behind those of two Americans and an Australian mare, 5 Lbs ahead of the next Euro in the Longines World rankings, Postponed.
Trained by the leading French conditioner Jean-Claude Rouget for owners Antonio Caro and Gerard Augustin-Normand, Almanzor stays in training for another season in 2017, and he should enter stud for the 2018 season, with Haras d'Etreham, where he was bred, back in a fray as a new partner in his ownership.
Almanzor made € 100,000 € as a yearling at the August sale in Deauville.
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Next Thursday, December 8th, meet French Gold Cup winner MILORD THOMAS...